I think about this question from time to time. These are not new thoughts, but I really do think that it does us good to be reminded why we first believed in Jesus. If you don’t believe in Jesus as the Savior of the world you should consider why you don’t. We don’t really believe or reject Jesus because of the usual suspects: hypocrites. We believe or reject because of a much more basic reason: Jesus.
Matthew 27:22 Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?”
When Pilate asked the crowd what he should do with Jesus, he was seeking a way out of his responsibility. He did not realize he was asking THE question. In our day of blogger philosophy and face-book arguments and twitter one liners we might start believing that all that noise is what it is really about. All the questions about, “How could a good God….” and, “Why would a loving God…” seem to be so relevant. All the criticisms about the failures of believers seem to mean so much. It is easy to get caught up in trying to answer every question. However, when it comes to believing in Jesus, that isn’t the point.
Now, if you and I have a relationship with someone and they have these questions I certainly think that we should work through them. But, when it comes to trusting in Jesus – answering those questions didn’t make you believe, did they? It wasn’t some philosophical argument that convinced you. It wasn’t some pithy answer about suffering or sin that won you over. What won you over was Jesus. You were won over by His teaching, His love, or His sacrifice. It was these things that drew you to Him.
I want that to be my message to others. I am so tempted to get pulled into philosophical arguments about Jesus. However, I didn’t believe in Him because of those arguments. I believed because I heard His message. I saw His love through the cross. I heard His invitation to be His child from His own lips. That is why I believed. That is my message.
For those of you who have yet to believe… Don’t you see the same in your life? I know, we blame “Christians” for rejecting Jesus because they aren’t consistent in following Him. But, that’s just it – it’s blame. It’s not the reason. It’s just a convenient excuse, isn’t it? The real reason is you don’t like Jesus. I don’t mean that you have animosity toward Him. I mean that You don’t like what He claims about people or Himself. You don’t like what His death means for you. It is all about Jesus!
So, what have you done with Pilate’s question? What will you do with this One called Christ? What about Jesus makes you not trust Him? If the answer to that question is suffering or sin, then you haven’t really answered the question. You’ve dodged it. Let me ask the question again, “What about Jesus makes you not trust Him? Is it what He teaches? Is it that He died for you? Is it His love that always tells you the truth? Which one of those is detestable in your sight?”
When all is said and done, that is the real question. Like Pilate of old I asked that question of myself – What will I do with this one called Jesus? When I understood who He is and what He had done for me I had to say, “believe in Him.” What do you say? Is it because of Him?
Something to think about,
Pastor John
Pastor John D Jakes 
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